lebanon

Lebanon’s $4.5 Billion Price Tag: The Hidden Cost of the Syrian War

Since 2011, hosting Syrian refugees has posed a severe economic challenge for Lebanon. According to the latest World Bank report, the direct annual cost of accommodating these refugees is estimated at around $4.5 billion. However, this figure only accounts for direct expenses. When indirect costs are included, the total cost rises to roughly ...

Morgan Ortagus Calls for Disarming Hezbollah and Reforming Lebanon to Attract Investment

US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus called on Friday for the urgent and complete disarmament of Hezbollah, stressing that legitimate arms must remain solely in the hands of the Lebanese state. In an exclusive statement to Al Jadeed, Ortagus emphasized that genuine economic and financial reforms are not only vital for building a ...

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Aita al-Shaab and a Vehicle in Kfar Kila

An Israeli drone dropped a bomb on the town of Aita al-Shaab on Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported from the strike, though it heightened concerns in the already tense border area. Earlier in the day, Israeli forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in the town of Kfar Kila near the Fatima Gate. The car was struck by several bullets while ...

Lebanon Regains WHO Voting Rights, Pledges Health Reforms

Lebanon has regained its voting rights at the World Health Organization (WHO) after a two-year suspension due to unpaid membership fees. Speaking from the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nassereddine said the reinstatement “restores Lebanon’s influential role in the organization’s discussions and ...

Aoun Tells ATFL Lebanon Is Committed to Lawful Recovery

Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun addressed the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) via video during a Washington dinner on Friday. He stated that Lebanon is firmly on the path to national recovery through legal reform and full state sovereignty. “We have made measurable progress and are steadily building a lawful and just state,” ...

Women’s Football: Lebanon Steps Into the Game with Hope and Strategy

Lebanon hasn’t just introduced a strategy—it has issued a statement of intent. In a setting both focused and inspired, the grand hall of the Mövenpick Hotel served as a symbolic ground yesterday for the kickoff of Football for Hope—a transformative development project for women’s football, spearheaded by the Lebanese Football Association ...

Sexual Harassment During School Outing: Minor Arrested, Park Sealed by Authorities

Following a sexual harassment incident involving several children during a school activity, the park where the incident occurred was sealed on Friday by judicial order from the Mount Lebanon Court of Appeal Prosecutor, Judge Mohammad Barakat. Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced on Thursday the arrest of a minor suspected of ...

Teachers’ Law Reissue or a Return to Street Protests

On April 17, President Joseph Aoun submitted two appeals to the Constitutional Council. The first challenges Law No. 1, which automatically came into effect and regulates leases of non-residential properties. The second targets Law No. 2, also automatically enacted, which amends specific provisions related to private school faculty and school ...

Public Sector Crisis: The Finance Minister’s Last Straw

Tensions are mounting in the deserted halls of Lebanon’s public administrations. A single decision by the Ministry of Finance on May 15 was enough to trigger an immediate call for a strike. But beyond the standoff over working hours, deeper issues are surfacing—highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the public sector amid a ...

Joint Committee Set to Tackle Palestinian Arms Issue in First Meeting Friday

Following a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced via X that a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee will convene on Friday to establish a clear agenda for placing all illegal weapons, inside and outside Palestinian camps, under the authority of the Lebanese state. The meeting will also ...

BDL Issues Statement on Legal Measures and Financial Transparency

Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) announced in an official statement that it remains committed to transparency and integrity within the financial sector. It is actively pursuing legal procedures in collaboration with specialized law firms across several European countries and other international jurisdictions. This effort aims to initiate judicial ...

Homeownership Rates Reveal Inequalities Among Arab Countries

A recently published report by the U.S.-based financial and economic magazine CEOWORLD, known for its global rankings and comparative studies, sheds light on the disparities in homeownership rates across Arab countries. The findings reflect significant socio-economic differences within the region. At the top of the Arab world, Bahrain boasts the ...